Many professionals say that when you are scared to fly, you're really scared of a loss of control. You're afraid that either you will have an anxiety attack (you lose control) or the plane will crash (the pilot loses control).

Sometimes fear of flying is really about claustrophobia. The second the door closes, you feel trapped. But all in all, what do you really want to escape? Your feelings.

Sometimes there are other fears not directly linked to air flight that can cause a fear of flying. Agoraphobia (or fear of leaving home) is sometimes a factor. Another problem is suffering from true panic attacks and chronic high levels of anxiety. These problems will need to be treated first with professional help, before attempting to fly.

But for those people with a manageable form of aerophobia, the first step is to learn that the fear is the enemy, not the plane.